Care equipment Code of Practice receives support of the CQC

Care providers throughout England will be asked to demonstrate their compliance with the CECOPs’ Code of Practice, after regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) officially recognised the Scheme as essential to the supply of disability-related equipment.

CECOPS (the Community Equipment Code of Practice Scheme) is a social enterprise formed to make a positive impact upon the lives of disabled people, offering products and services providers a user accreditation system that recognises professionalism and allows organisations to be confident they are meeting their legal and welfare requirements.

Pleased to have received CQC support for the Scheme, CECOPs chairman Sir Bert Massie CBE said: “We are delighted the Care Quality Commission recognises the merits of CECOPs and the value it brings to people’s lives and to the organisations providing services to them. We are also encouraged to know that CQC will be looking for adherence to the Code of Practice to assist them in making their judgements about the compliance of service providers against their Essential Standards.”

Dame Jo Williams DBE, chair of the CQC, was hopeful that care services would embrace the Code of Practice, commenting: “Schemes such as CECOPs are good examples of the types of guidance and frameworks which can assist care providers in demonstrating their compliance with Essential Standards.”

Care homes, hospices and domiciliary care providers can all register with the Scheme, designed as a one-stop approach to regulatory requirements. Approved Training, overseen by CECOPs, is also available, allowing providers to greatly reduce the possibility of civil and criminal litigation through ensuring that staff are appropriately skilled to fulfil their role effectively.

Moving forward, CECOPS will be focusing on linking their Code Standards more closely to the Essential Standards set out by the CQC, enabling inspectors to be concise on where Outcomes are not being met.